Valve attachment for humidifier pans



I pt.- 1, 1936. J. L. SKUTTLE 2.052850 VALVE ATTACHMENT FOR HUMIDIFIER PANS Filed Nov. 14, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 r/Zimfidafik.

I Sept. 1, 1936. J. L. SKUTTLE VALVE ATTACHMENT FOR HUMIDIFIER FANS Filed Nov. 14, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 75702 .5. dZaZiZ-a Patented Sept. 1, 1936 par ah stares eA'rEar orriee VALVE ATTACHIVIENT FOR HUMIDIFIER PANS John L. Skuttle, Mason City, Iowa Application November 14, 1933, Serial No. 698,007

2 Claims. (01. 137-68) This invention relates to air conditioning and has special reference to a humidifier attachment for humidifierpans.

It is quite common in many places such as hot air furnaces and the air pipes or. ducts leading therefrom to provide humidifier pans in the form of trays for containing water, these trays having ends projecting from the structure in which they are located so that, as water evaporates from such trays, they may be freshly supplied with water by' manually pouring in water from a'suitable receptacle such as a bucket or pitcher.

. With such arrangements one is dependent on memory and observation to judge-about the time the supply of water should be renewed and the quantity to be supplied. This results in frequent neglect and it frequently happens that such trays stand dry for long periods so that the air which should have received moisture from water in a tray fiows to the place of use in an abnormally dry condition.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel automatic device whereby a tray of this kind is supplied with water whenever the water level in the tray drops below a certain predetermined point.

A second object of the invention is to provide a novel float controlled valve for use in connection with such trays.

A third important object of the invention is to provide a unitary float and valve attachment which may be easily clamped into position on the usual humidifier tray and which is adjustable so that a predetermined water level may be maintained in the tray.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure 1 is a section through an air duct showing a humidifier tray in elevation with the regulating device attached.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section through the duct shown in Figure 1 with the tray and attachment in plan.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section of the valve and float attachment on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail section on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure '7 is an elevation showing the right hand end of the tray of Figure l and the parts associated with said tray.

In Figures 1 and 2 there is disclosed a portion of a furnace shell IE3 having at one side a circular opening provided with an inwardly projecting peripheral flange l i. A tapered circular collar l2 fits in this opening and through this collar extends a trough-like humidifier tray l3 which has both ends closed and has its outer end extending outwardly beyond the collar and provided with a vent opening or overflow M. A

hood I5 is fitted on this outwardly projecting end and is cut away to permit application of the valve attachment to the tray. Projecting from the inner end of the tray i3 is an overflow pipe it which extends out of the duct it through an adjustable cover plate ll covering an opening iii in the duct. This overflow pipe serves the double purpose of preventing water from overflowing the tray into the duct in case of accident to the valve and of supporting the inner end of said tray in the adjustable plate ll.

'Ihe attachment consists of a box-like casing l9 having a slot 20 extending vertically through one end from the bottom to the top and a lid or cover 2| is fitted removably to this casing to form a top. A lug 22 depends from the slotted end of the casing and a second lug 23 is spaced longitudinally of the casing from the first lug so that the side edge portion of the projecting part of the tray may be engaged between these lugs. A clamp screw 2G is screwed through the lug 23 so that the edge portion of the tray may be firmly gripped between the point of this screw and the lug 22 as shown in Figure 6. Through the lower part of the end wall opposite the slot 20 passes the horizontal branch of an elbow member 25 which is shouldered to compress a packing washer 26 against the wall and which has a retaining nut 21 on its outwardly projecting end. Screwed on this end is a pipe elbow 28 having a water supply pipe 29 connected to it by a nipple 30.

Fitted on the inner end of the member 25 is a vertically extending nipple 3i normally closed at its upper end by a valve packing or cushion member 32 carried with an inverted cup-like valve 33. Extending through the side walls of the casing 59 is a pair of alined cone bearing screws 34, the points of which enter conical seats in a rod or lever 35. These screws are adjusted by screwing through said walls and are provided with lock nuts 36 to prevent accidental displacement from their adjusted positions. One end of this lever has the valve 33 pivotally dependent therefrom while the other end projects outwardly through the slot 253 and is threaded so that a sleeve 31 may be adjustably screwed thereon. The sleeve has a fiat lug 38 at its outer end and through this lug extends a rod 39 secured to the lug by nuts 50. The rod 39 extends downwardly from the lug 38 and has its lower end threaded so that a float 4| may be screwed on the rod for vertical adjustment relative to the lever 35. The effective length of the lever arm carrying the float may be regulated by screwing the sleeve 31 on or ofi the lever to a greater or less extent and, since the float is supported by the water in the tray, the normal water level in the tray may be controlled by screwing the float up or down on the rod 39 as may be required.

As shown in Figure 1, the humidifier tray l3 has the bottom wall l3a thereof inclined upwardly and rearwardly toward the rear wall of the furnace to provide a water depth in the tray that gradually decreases toward the rear wall of the furnace. It is also to be noted that the overflow pipe I6 is supported in the hanger or cover plate ll that is vertically adjustable on the rear wall of the furnace as will be obvious from an inspection of Figures 1 and 2. It has been described that the float M is adjustable to control the water level in the pan l3 and the float adjustment permits v.the water level to be lowered to about two-thirds of the capacity of evaporation in the tray. Under some conditions, it has been found that the float adjustment is not sumcient to reduce the humidity to a minimum and in such cases, the hanger or cover plate H may be adjusted to elevate the rear end of the humidifier tray further to lower or reduce the quantity of Water in the tray and thereby eliminate the possibility of over humidification. It is therefore possible to obtain a dual control for the supply of water to the humidifier tray 93 by adjustment of the float 4! and adjustment of the humidifier tray.

Another important feature of the inventionvis the provision of an overflow arrangement at each end of the humidifier tray, the vent or overflow opening M permitting external discharge, of water from the humidifier tray should the rear end of the tray be elevated above its normal position while a lower disposition of the rear end of the humidifier tray permits overflow therefrom through the supporting pipe l6. With an arrangement of this character, danger of water overflowing the humidifier tray to vcontact the overheated furnace castings is eliminated.

When the attachment is clamped on the tray the slotted end will overhang the hollow of said tray. With the water at normal level the valve 33 will close the nipple 3| but if, through evaporation or otherwise, the water in the tray drops below its normal level, the float will drop so that the lever will be tilted to lift the valve 33 and open the nipple. Water will then flow into the casing l9 through the nipple 3i and pass out of the slot Ell into the tray. This will raise the' float and, when normal water level' has been limits, to that desired and the tray thus equipped will require no attention on the part of a person.

There has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the form and proportions of the parts without departing from the material principles of the invention. It is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described but it is desired to include all such as come within the scope claimed.

I claim:

' 1. An air moistener comprising a humidifier tray having an exposed portion at one end, said exposed portion being adapted to form a float chamber, a valve housing detachably secured to the exposed portion of the humidifier tray, an inlet pipe extending into the valve housing and extending upwardly, a float rod pivotally mount,- ed within the valve housing, a valve disk carried by the innermost end of the pivoted rod adapted to be presented to the upwardly extending portion of the inlet pipe, a sleeve threaded on the opposite end of the pivoted float rod, a screw threaded rod secured to the threaded sleeve extending downwardly transversely thereof, and a float carried by the lower end of the screw threaded rod.

2. An air humidifier comprising a humidifier tray having an exposed end portion, a valve housing detachably secured to the exposed end portion of the humidifier tray, a liquid inlet pipe extending into the valve housing and having its free end extending upwardly, a float rod pivotally secured to the housing, a disk valve member carried by the innermost end of the pivoted float rod adapted to be presented to the open end of the upwardly extending portion of the inlet pipe, a threaded sleeve formed on the opposite end of the float rod, a screw threaded downwardly extending bar secured to the free end of the sleeve and a float threaded on the lower end of the bar whereby said float may be adjusted to assume a proper position within the exposed end portion of the humidifier tray.

JOHN L. SKUTTLE. 

